Failed condenser replaced for free by Volvo

[Gucci]

Yes, you read that right. My condenser turned out to be corroded in the bottom corner, causing the air con to fail. Indy looked at it first, but we decided to pursue with Volvo Uk as it was just 4 years old and only 34k on the clock, so not used to destruction either. Warranty on that part has been increased from 3 to 5 years as it's a known issue.

Bill from Volvo if not covered £900! My bill today £0.

Marvellous.

[Ninja59]

loads are getting this treatment all done FOC the law sort of forces volvo's hand to...

[Daim]

Wish Volvo would do that here... You just can't sue Volvo cars herein Krautland...

[Ninja59]

Originally Posted by Daim

Wish Volvo would do that here... You just can't sue Volvo cars herein Krautland...

that will be you running 19"s dear give me them and you might be able to...

[2.4TSE]

Originally Posted by Gucci

Bill from Volvo if not covered £900! My bill today £0. Marvellous.

Well mine wasn't zero, but the failed condenser on my wife's 2008 C30 T5 was replaced a few weeks ago by an independent aircon specialist for less than £400 (I am abroad at the mo so don't have the invoice to hand but recall £388 in total) including time spend first proving that it really was the condenser that had failed. The unit itself was replaced with an aftermarket one that in the experience of the installer is of better quality than the wafer thin Ford branded one (don't ask me the name as I don't know, but I do trust the installer).

The installer predicted the most likely cause of failure to be leaves trapped between the rear face of the intercooler and the front face of the condenser causing a road salt-trap, and sure enough, when the intercooler was removed a huge pile of dried leaves fell out and the dye injected a week before* had stained the condenser (thus proving the leak) in the same location. He then showed me how to angle my garden hose to periodically flush leaves out before they become jammed in place and the winter salt-trap.

*I will not enter the "this is now illegal because it knowingly allows refrigerant to escape to atmosphere" debate. Case closed.

[slingading]

Originally Posted by 2.4TSE

He then showed me how to angle my garden hose to periodically flush leaves out before they become jammed in place and the winter salt-trap.

Any chance you can explain how to the rest of us to possibly prevent the same happening to us?

[AndyMcc]

I've posted previously about the air con failure on my 09 plate just out of warranty. I've booked it in at my local Volvo dealers for next week. I questioned them about this problem which they knew about but obviously wouldn't commit to the FOC Volvo repair, fare enough I suppose. They will charge 40 quid for the dye injection to establish where it's leaking from and then contact Volvo uk for the replacement authority, if that's ok'd then I will get my £40 back and the repair if not it'll cost £40 and either walk away or pay them. Can't really grumble at that,,

Andy.

[Gucci]

The part in question has been increased from 3 year warranty to 5 years because they know it's an issue. If yours is corroded, it's covered. My £44 wasn't charged either.

[Wild Thing]

Maybe replaced free if you have a full volvo service history, if you have a part history they will tell you to go swivel. We done ours ourselves in house for under £200 including regas.

[Gucci]

Nope. Mine is indy stamped. They asked if it was serviced with Volvo first (Uk office) I replied "irrelevant". The part has failed and is not connected with servicing. They agreed.